An Israeli soldier was hit in the head with a stone and lightly wounded Sunday by Lebanese demonstrators on the other side of the border, an Israeli military source said.

The attack occurred at the Metulla, Israel, border checkpoint known in Lebanon as Fatima Gate.

Lebanese had been demonstrating for several hours on their side against Israeli soldiers.

One of the protestors hurled a stone that hit a soldier in the head, the source said, adding that he was lightly wounded and had been taken for treatment.

Israeli military radio said earlier Sunday that troops have been ordered to fire live rounds at anyone trying to "infiltrate" into Israel from southern Lebanon, following an increasing number of incidents at the border fence.

The report followed the wounding by rubber bullets of four Jordanians demonstrating against Israel on the Lebanese border Saturday.

The Israeli army said the men, who were slightly wounded, were shot after they tried to "infiltrate Israeli territory."

The incident drew a strong protest from Jordan.

The radio said the Israelis also wanted an end to stone-throwing by people who still gather daily on the Lebanese side of the border fence, a month after Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, targeting soldiers and civilians on the Israeli side - OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP)